Return of boat festival at Inle Lake brings mixed emotions

The Buddhist Channel, 21 Oct 2023

Inle Lake, Myanmar -- Thousands of Buddhists participated in the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda festival, which features four sacred Buddha images placed on a golden barge and rowed through lakeside villages in eastern Shan State.

The festival had been interrupted for three years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the military coup in 2021, preventing locals from worshiping the images.

On Thursday, the golden barge glided through the cool waters, pulled by slender wooden longboats with rowers using a unique local technique. Many boats, filled with worshipers, followed as the sun rose, with the accompaniment of drum and cymbal sounds.

Despite the joy of the festival's return, there was an underlying sadness, as people on the lake were aware of the challenging situation in other parts of the country, including the possibility of encountering armed conflicts.

The festival's organizers expressed their regret for the interruption, and as devotees drew alongside the golden barge adorned with Buddhist flags, they offered their prayers to the four images inside. The fifth Buddha image remained in the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda as a result of an accident many decades ago when it fell into the lake from the boat.

Inle Lake had become a popular tourist destination after Myanmar's transition to semi-civilian rule in 2011. However, since the 2021 coup, the number of foreign visitors has significantly decreased, impacting the local economy. Many hotels in the area had to close, resulting in a loss of jobs.

Shan State, where Inle Lake is located, had been relatively spared from the worst of the military crackdown, which led to numerous casualties and arrests in other parts of the country. Despite their own festivities, people at Inle Lake were mindful of those suffering in Myanmar and prayed for their well-being and peace.

The return of the festival brought happiness to the local community, with people expressing their joy at being able to see the Buddha statues once again after a three-year hiatus. They hope for a return to the bustling days of the lake, like those before the recent disruptions.